Looking for spayed female companion/guard for 87 yr. old great grandma - Page 5

My grandmother had a small dog and that dog was always under her feet and had tripped her many times. I think a larger dog would be less likely under foot to trip your grandmother.

 Oprah,

How many phone calls and emails do you take on a weekly basis for the past 10 plus years asking you to take a GSD that someone now wants to dump because it bit someone, mauled its' elderly owner (oh it was an accident), are having their homeowners insurance cancelled if they don't get rid of the dog, and on and on and on? I would venture to bet the answer you would give if you were honest is NONE. 

Joseph asked for a response. Several people gave one, including me. My experience as a GSD owner, and I bet I have owned and worked many more dogs than you, and as a paramedic and as someone involved deeply with GSD rescue is that it is often a serious mistake to try to put a GSD into a home where there is an elderly person. Several people have disagreed with me and that is fine. In the end, yes, Joseph will make his own decision and he will have to live with any consequences, be they negative or positive. 

If you have something to contribute, or an opinion on the subject matter, please feel free to do so. It has nothing to do with making someone feel useless. That comment speaks volumes. It does have everything to do with caring enough about the woman I don't know, the dog, and the breed to raise the issue of caution when considering putting a large dog with an elderly woman, regardless of how spry she may be,

Oprah,

Can I get your autograph??   

And maybe a couple of 8x10 glossy's.

A fan.

Some years back I placed a young male with an elderly lady that lived alone.  She was a temporary cancer survivor and arthritic.  This male was very sweet and well mannered.  Her freinds came to me looking for a female which I didn't havebut suggested this male.  She had a fenced yard and freinds to take her to vet, etc.  She lived about 40 miles from me so I could get there if problems arose.  Long story short - this dog added a good seven years to her life and then came back to me to live out his life.  He never knocked her down or caused a problem for her.  So I believe there is a dog out there for this woman,but it will take some work to be sure to get the right dog and avoid the "sharks".  Maybe a lot of people will disagree but I think you should not rule out a nice male.  Somehow a good GSD just seems to know what it is dealing with.

Judy

What is it specifically you take such offence to that you have read so far "Oprah"?  I just went back over Hodies posts to this thread.  She politely expressed her opinion and stuck to the topic.  Seems the only person here with an axe to grind and an agenda is you.  By the way, yes, we have lives and we train dogs, we have friends and we even have time to interact on the computer.  Personally I find it more rewarding than watching the boob tube, but to each their own.

Now if you have something of substance to contribute to the topic I'm sure we will all be interested,  If your sole purpose was to try to insult Hodie or anyone else, start your own thread.

I believe if I remember , a thread about how gentle Zidane v Haus Seven was with Miss Alabama's mother and how he stayed by her and never bumped or got in her way, infact she held on to him..

There are some out there that can be around older people. This ganny seems to be able to command and handle herself and no problem. I dont like little dogs so I would have a gsd till I croak.

 while I don't ALWAYS agree that an elderly person could handle a GSD, I think there's exceptions to the rule and if you find the right dog, go for it. My 83 year old grandmother lives with us and is able to give my boys commands. They do not have access to her at all times, she's not as stable on her feet these days, but since they were here first I hardly see fit to lose my dogs, I just protect grandma. BUT, she has a rottie/border collie/lab mix. 

She used to live in a bad area and after an attempted break in (she lived across the street from a high school) the police actually told her she should get a dog. I used to leave my malinois mix with her at her yard every day while I was working. But then it was time to get a dog. We went to the shelter. I was prepared to find a standard poodle or something smart, light (meaning somewhat more controllable then her old rotties were), and somewhat protective. The adoption counselor SWORE this rottie/bc/lab mix was THE perfect dog for her. I kept in my head thinking are you CRAZY?! A border collie mixed into that? for a then 78 year old????? what the heck?! But boy was I ever wrong. Simon has been her best buddy and has laid at her side for 5 years now, hardly ever leaving her. I personally don't care for him, he's a lump in my book. But this very large boy has been the best thing that ever happened to her. Who'd have thought with that breed combination! He has never so much as dreamed of knocking her over, listens to her every whim (even though she's a bit nutty sometimes and screams and carries on at him, he's patient and does as she says). I won't be happy the day he ever passes, I think she stays around for him actually. She would never think of owning a small breed (gag) though I have one here, it's not her cup of tea. And with his size nobody would bother her, even though he probably wouldn't actually do anything. He'd bark and strut and that's about it for all I know. 

My point is that while it doesn't always work out, sometimes it does, and I think it's important to acknowledge that there's exceptions to every rule....even the one that says a GSD isn't great for the elderly. Technically, neither is a BC cross:-) But there's an exception and as long as this person finds the right dog and is sensible about it (which it sounds like he is being) we can only wish the best for them.

Oprah (what a clever screen name),

You certainly are something.....what is your problem? Do you have the guts to say who you really are? I doubt it. I wrote nothing here I would take back. I give my experience and knowledge just as others do. People are free to take it or leave it, agree or disagree. 

Stop being an ass. If you don't like what I said, don't read it. As for experiences in life, a job, hobbies, yes, I have a rich life and one that you do not know of, not that I give a flying F*** what you would think anyway, assuming you could think. IF we got into a pissing match, your accomplishments would not be too impressive I bet. We can do that if you like. I think I know who you are. Someone just PMed me. You are, at best, disingenuous and a coward.

As for sleeping, I sleep well thank you, every night. But thanks for being so concerned. LOL Oh yes, I have a good life as well. 

Yes, Oprah does have an "unnatural obsession with peoples asses" so perhaps he/she might want to join the discussion on global warming.....there is a lot to learn about gasses and asses there.  Oprah must have been under anesthesia too long to get so offended by my posts. I give my opinion and experience here just as others do. People are free to not read it, read it, accept it, not accept it, disagree etc. But there is no call for what was just written and I suspect there is a hidden agenda here. I don't think I will loose sleep over it.